Egg-tester.



No 842,428. I PATENTBD JAN. 29, 1907. P. J. SCHREIBER. EGG TESTER.

APPLICATION FILED P113. 8. 1906.

THE NORRIS rs-rzns cu. WASHINGTON, n. c.

PHILIP J. SCHREIBEB, OF TOLEDO,'OHIO.

EGG-TESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed February 8, 1906. Serial No. 300,085.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP J. SCHREIBER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucasand State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Egg-Tester; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a collapsible or foldable egg-testing device; and it has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means to ascertain the condition and quality of an egg by inspection thereof when in unbroken state, such inspection enabling a person to ascertain the fresh, sound, recent, or old state of the egg in whatever degree of freshness or state of decomposition it may be in in order to judge its commercial and nourishing value, its nourishing quality, and its fitness for medical, pharmaceutical, and'surgical purposes.

It is also the purpose of my invention to provide an article of the class described which is cheap of manufacture, light in weight, and small in size, so as to make it possible to carry it in the vest-pocket or shopping-bag of the user, whereby it may be employed as a pocket-mirror, if so desired.

To this end the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, as is hereinafter fully described and finally claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view thereof in closed position. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof in open position with an egg in position thereon for examination, and Fig. 3 is a front view thereof in open position with an egg mounted thereon and shownas being reflected in the mirror carried by the lower hinged section.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the top section of my device, which section is provided with a circular opening a of suitable size for the reception of a portion of an egg 0, as shown, and has its perimeter formed with a downwardly-projecting flange b, to the inner sides of which adjacent the rear end thereof is pivoted or suitably hinged a section B, corresponding in shape to the section A. This section B has its edge formed with an upwardly-projecting flange c, which is of suitable depth and size to fit snugly within the flange of the top section A. in the bottom of the hinged section B is mounted a mirror D, which is secured therein in any suitable manner and is of suitable size to receive and reflect the image communicated thereto by the rays' of light penetrating the egg 0, mounted in the opening in the top section A. The two sections A and B are stamped from metal and connected from the rear to adjacent the forward edge of each side thereof by collapsible folded sides or accordion-plaited walls E E, which permit an opening of the said sections to a desired degree and tend to prevent the rays of light from passing between the sides of the device when in open position, thus causing a perfect image of the egg positioned in the opening a to be reflected on the mirror D and preventing the confusion of such image which would otherwise be cccasioned by lateral rays of light penetrating between sides of the open section.

My test of an egg is based on its double convex shape or form and on the peculiar nature of its two distinct fluidities, the white part of which possesses a great degree of transparency and the yolk a more dense or yellow-reddish color. This property of the egg is-rnore pronounced in its fresh state and less so in the older state and is altogether extinct in the decayed state. In the recent state the reddish yolk is floating or suspended in the white; but diffuses when the egg becomes old. The shell of a fresh egg is more porous and allows rays of light to penetrate it, which condition is not present in a storage egg.

To test an egg 1n my device, it is only necessary to place one of its ends in vertical position in the opening a of the lid or top section A and permit either day-light or artificial light to concentrate on the upper or exposed end of the egg. This being done, the lower hinged section B is opened a sufficient distance to properly reflect the base or lower apex of the superimposed egg upon the mirror D in the bottom of said lower section. If the egg is recent, sound, and fresh, the reflection of the yolk will appear like a fiery ball or body, as the rays of light which penetrate the shell and light fluid break up on the yolk and continue to the lower part of the egg, thus reflecting the yolk in glossy red in the mirror. This reddish-hue diminishes when the egg becomes old and disappears entirely when the same enters into the state of decomposition, as the fluidities are no more distinct and the white loses its transparency.

This deviceis capable of adjustment to suit the difl'erent positions of light which strike the egg on its upper part by reason of the observer being able to open or close the sections A B until it fits his vision and the position of the light to the best advantage. By the use of the collapsible walls E the observer is enabled to bring the opening a in the top section A to any desired angle with respect to the mirror by simply opening the sections wider or narrower to the angle most desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An egg-tester, comprising two stamped metal members each having their perimeters formed with inwardly-projecting flanges which lap when the members are closed together, said members having their flanges pivotally connected at one end and one of said members having an opening there through to receive an egg, collapsible folding walls connecting the sides of said members whereby to form an adjustable pocket therebetween, and a mirror disposed within said an opening therethrough and both being adapted to have relative angular adjustment or closed compactly together one within the other, a mirror mounted within the member opposing the opening, and foldable walls connecting the sides of the two members within the flanges thereof to enable the parts to be opened to form a triangular member having the end thereof opposing the pivotal connection open or be closed together with the bellows inclosed therein.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIP J. SCHREIBER. 

